Tank-gage.



" E. l. CPELAND.

TANK GAGE.

APPLICATioN FILED N0y.16.1914

1l74232. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

5 g1/tomato@ v Edmund JCopelond,

jcuringthe'gage 1n an accessible position EDMUNDJ". COPELANID, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

' TANK-GAGE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDMUND J. COPELAND, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain and useful Improvementsin Tank- Gages, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

to an arrangement thereof whereby fluctua- This-invention relates to tank gages and tions -in the level of the tank to which the gage `may' be applied,` produce corresponding movements in an indicator through the medium of a transmitting iuid -which operates with or against atmospheric pressure in expanding or contracting a suitably disposed and arranged chamber in the gage proper. y

The invention also includes means for se- L`'whereby it'can be readily filled, adjusted or yotherwise manipulated without disconnecting it or disturbing its operative connections.

The 'device is particularly adaptable for use on the fuel tanks of automobiles, motor boats, or the like.

The' invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.'l

In the drawings, Figure is a viewpartially in vertical section and partially in elevation, of a tank gage mounted on a dash board or the like, embodying features of thev invention; Fig. 2 isa view in front'elevation showing the arrangement of the 'indicator, supporting bracket and filling spout; and Fig. 3 is a view in detail showing a modification of'a side wall.

Referring to the drawing, a closed chamber 1 has a connecting pipe 2 leading therefrom in communication with a reservoir or tank, not shown. A diaphragm 3`in this chamber is connected to the upper wall 4 thereof by a'collapsible annular side wall` 5 which may be integrally formed with deep corrugations of thin sheet metal, (see Fig. 3) or may be bulit up as herein indicated of superposed oppositely dished disks or annular members that are connected at their alternate margins either by brazing, soldering or welding so as to form a `hermetical seal.

A bracket 6 vthat may be readily inserted through the opening `of a dash 7 or other supporting part, is connected tothe/upper Specification of Letters Patent.

wall 4 of the tank and provided with a longitudinal duct 8 through, its lower member that opens into the tank. through an aperture 1n the top wall and is providedl at vits outer end with a closure, preferably in the form of a valve cap 9 that yisscrewthreaded onto a suitably Vformed boss or nlpple 10 of the bracket A lug 11 from the rear of the bracketforms a support for .a fulcrum pin 12 on which 'a'lever 13 is `pivoted. The inner arm of the lever is adjustably connected to thed-iaphragm 3 by alink 14 whose sections.arie"l adjustably connected by a turn buckle 15. A suitably disposed pointer 1 6 o 5 the other arm of the lever 13 sweeps adial or scale 17 that is inserted .in transverse slots of the lower arm' y ofthe bracket and an .upper divergentarm 1 8. .A; glass shield 19or other transparent plate is secured over the scale 17 and the Patented Mar; '7, 1916.Y i Application led November 16, 1914. Serial No. 872,283.

whole is housed 4in a suitable lcasing 20.

preferably ofsheet metal Vthat is formed to close over the' end portions offthe arms of the bracket and to be secured into position sol by holding 'screws 21 that. likewise fasten the bracket on the member 7.

When arranged for use, the` gage mounted as indicated, on any desired supporting member, as for example the daSh-. board of an automobile, and is connected by a tube with a tank. -The chamber is filled with suitable liquid through the valve 9 which is easy of access, so that on any drop in the level of the tank to be gaged, the consequent exhaustion or tendency to exhaustion of the chamber of thegage, causes'the consequent expansion of the diaphragm and annular wally supporting'the same. This .moves the lever so that its index traverses the dial and indicates to the user the amount of fuel in the tank.` It is to be understood, ofcourse7 that the tube from the gage opens into the bottom of the tank to which the gage is applied. Asa result of this con.-

struction a gage is obtained that may be opthe indicator of the gage and that is readily accessible for repair and for replacement of admit an additional supply of filling or oplthe operating' uid. The. position of the erating liouid and the rigid support afforded bythe bracket which alsoacts as the lling valve connectionl are features which make the gage particularly adaptable for use on vehicles.

Obviously, changesin` the details of conv struction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular chamber opening atits base into the inlet endll -form or arrangement of parts.

-What I claim isz-- l. A gage for tanks comprising. a tube' adaptedtobe connected at its outlet end to the lower portion of a' tank, a collapsible of the tube and having a wall moving in response to the variations in the support at forded thereto bv the contents of the cham- -ber`against atmospheric pressure, a bracket supporting the chamber and having a duct therethrough opening into. a filling opening `of the chamber, a valve on the bracket for sealing'- the ductfand means carried by the bracket and operatedby the wall for indieating the' position and movement of the latter.

' 2. A gage for tanks comprising a tube adapted to be connectedat its outlet end to the lower portion of a tank, a collapsible chamberA opening into, the vinlet end ofitheV tube and having a wall moving in response to variations in the support aiorded thereto by the contents of the chamber against at? mospheric' pressure, "means supporting the chamber and, having an inlet 'duct therethrough in communication with the inlet duct of the chamber anda valve on the supporting means forcontrolling the duct therethrough.

Ar agel for tanks comprising a supporting racket having a supply valve von its outer portion ycontrolling a duct leading through the bracket to the inner portion thereof, a collapsible chamber supported on the inner portion of the bracket with an inlet thereto in communication with the bracket duct, the chamber having a wall that is movable in response to variations in the support afforded thereto by the contents of the chamber against atmospheric pressure,

ya tube for connecting the interior of the chamber With a tank, and means carried by the bracket and, operated by the movable wall for indicating the position of the latter.

4. A gage for tanks comprising a sup' porting bracket having a supply valve on its thereof, aV collapsible chamber supported on Ithe inner portion of the bracket with an inlet thereto in communication with the bracket duct, the chamber having a wal-l that is movable in response to variations in the support afforded thereto by the contents of` the chamber against'atmospheric pressure,

' =a `.tube .for connecting the 'interior of the 'chamber with a tank, a scale on the outer ,outer portion controlling Va duct leading -through the bracket to the inner portion portion of thebracket, a view-shield on the bracket for the scale, an indicator pivoted Von the bracket and adapted to traverse the scale, and an adjustable connection between the indicator and movable wall for operating the indicator by the movement of the Wall.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature in presence of 'two' witnesses.

EDMUND J. COPELAND.

Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, C. R. S'rIoKNnr. 

